This is my opinion, but with squared off transitions between stummel and stem, it seems like a lot of precise work has to be done. Round seems a bit easier.
I just want to take a second and thank Ryan Alden for doing this for us.
Thanks everyone, it's an honor to be a part of this !
I'm happy that many who've never seen my pipes have a chance to grab one, and I hope the guys who already collect my work will appreciate adding one more !
I'd like to thank @Hirsute for organizing all of the details here. We discussed a lot of possibilities for this one, but narrowed it down to my personal favorite shape, both as a smoker and a pipemaker.
The Classic 4 Square Panel Billiard is timeless. It seems to me as much at home in the 1920's as it does the 2020's. It's both perfectly practical and perfectly handsome.
I've smoked a pipe for 23 years, but never paid much attention to this shape until just a few years ago. Someone requested a copy of the pipe that Bing Crosby smokes in Holiday Inn. His pipe in the film is a large, smooth 4 Square Panel Billiard with a silver band. I studied the pipe and set out to recreate it. When it was done I had gained a ton of respect, both for the shape and whoever first designed the pipe. So simple, but nearly architectural in detail and style. I was in love !
So without rambling too much, the price we negotiated for this years LE reflects my love for making this shape in particular
I'm glad we worked the details out this way. I hope it allows the highroller and the pennypincher to both get in on the action !
The attention to detail and craftsmanship will be exactly the same here as with all of my pipes, nothing will change from every other pipe I make, except the price ! I also believe this pipe is best presented in this exact color scheme; Antique Red Brindle stain, and Classic Red Cumberland stem. Although handsome in any finish, this combination is the ne plus ultra in my eye.
I will update this post with pictures of the process along the way !
I think Hirsute covered all the detailsl, but please feel free to ask any other questions here or by email.
I will be taking orders by email from now until the end of the month.
We will leave the ordering window open until the 31st, and I will send all Invoices for Deposits at the same time on the 30th and 31st. If you'd like to pay the pipe in one payment on the 31st, please make a note of that in your email and I will send an Invoice for the total price.
I will reply to all of the order emails once I have transferred your details to a log. It could take a week or so to write back to some emails,so if I have not responded to your email within a week please feel free to write again in case the first email didn't go through.
Once again, thanks for inviting me to the forum, and to be a part of this years Limited Edition pipe.
I am looking forward to it !
FTFYis it September yet?
Excellent! I meant to tag you earlier after last year! I got too excited.E-mail sent. [emoji1360]